The 7th Annual NAAHP Conference

The 7th Annual National Alliance for the Advancement of Haitian Professionals (NAAHP) Conference is returning to the greater Miami area in partnership with Florida International University (FIU) and the City of North Miami. We look forward to having you join us as we explore this year’s theme — Haiti’s Diaspora: Disrupting and Redefining the Road Ahead taking place on October 25 – 27, 2018 at the Kovens Conference Center, located on FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami.

Millennials are the generation of disruption. Through the use of technology and social media, they have largely amplified their voices and created momentum behind the causes and initiatives they support. This panel will highlight the work of Haitian Millennials and how they are redefining their fields. Furthermore, it will identify the engine fueling the change that they seek to achieve.

Q&A session where students will learn how successful Diaspora millennial professionals have carved out a niche and path for their career journeys. Learn how to identify your strengths, establish an early career path, salary negotiation skills, how to move forward with a career you love and development advice. Receive guidance towards general job-seeking success. Receive tips on securing a mentor, managing the corporate pipeline and finding your voice. People may bring in their items for review.

As the saying goes, “If you are not at the table, you are on the menu.” The importance of Diaspora’s participation in the political process in host countries–whether by exercising its right to vote and/or running for office–cannot be stressed enough. This session will discuss the political process in the United States and various ways the Diaspora can get involved. It will also explore the cost of not being engaged in the political process.

For many professionals, sitting in that coveted corner office is just an unattainable dream. Why do some make it to the C-Suite and others don’t? During this session, we will hear from accomplished executives and learn the secret and strategies behind their success. Specifically, they will share their experiences and provide practical advices on how to climb to the top. By the end of the session, participants will identify concrete steps that can be taken to turbo charge their career.

The World Economic Forum projects that 10% of global GDP will be stored on the blockchain by 2025. Additionally, the World Bank recently launched the first bond globally to be created, allocated, transferred and managed using a blockchain. Small nations – including Bermuda, Malta, Gibraltar – have passed enterprise friendly legislation to attract cryptocurrency companies. The decentralized future is now and Haiti can participate in this economic revolution. This panel of blockchain experts will discuss prospects for remittances, smart farming, self-sovereign identify, supply chains, public policy, and other use cases.

Moderator: Cleve Mesidor, Founder of LOGOS

Speakers:

Clyde Vanel, New York State Assembly Member, Chair of Subcommittee on Internet and New Technologies

Jean Jacques Rousseau, Science and Innovation Advisor to the President of the Republic of Haiti

Education is key in building strong communities. To improve the socio-economic conditions of underserved populations both in the United States and Haiti, proven and relevant education practices are critical. This session will explore education policies that must be implemented to make sure that those who are vulnerable are not left behind and are empowered to change their socio-economic condition for the best.

Community news and ethnic media within immigrant communities play an important role in their identities. The ability of media outlets in the Diaspora to influence change has increased, creating new sources of information and a platform that highlights unpopular practices and policies. This panel will examine how news outlets in the Haitian Diaspora and the ease of information shared digitally can influence the culture and policies in the United States and Haiti.

Moderator: Vania Andre, Editor in Chief at The Haitian Times

Speakers:

Carel Pedre, Host at Radio One Chokarella

Claude Mancuso, President, Ayiti TV

Francesca Menes, Founder & Chief Community Engager, CommUnity Strategies, LLC and Florida State Coordinator, Local Progress, Center for Popular Democracy

Garry Pierre-Pierre, Founder of the Haitian Times, Co-Founder of City University of New York’s Center for Community and Ethnic Media

With approximately one million Haitians from the diaspora traveling annually to Haiti, the availability of urgent and emergent care is a significant and recurrent concern. Emergency care in Haiti is performed by Haiti’s healthcare delivery system, which itself lacks all of the basics such as access to care, specialized equipment, and a capable emergency transport infrastructure. This vital service is often critically strained due to a paucity of resources and sustainable funding. The panelists will discuss the current state of the emergency care system in Haiti. It will explore the types of services available in the country, their weaknesses, and potential solutions.

Moderator: Dr. Guerda Nicolas, Professor of Educational and Psychological Studies at University of Miami, School of Education and Human Development

Do you feel stuck in your career? Have you been working hard; yet, you were still overlooked for this promotion that you thought had your name all over it? This panel will teach you strategies that will help you develop your personal brand, work smarter, and be noticed by the leaders of your companies.

Moderator: Guylene Berry, Director, Sak Pase Media

Speakers:

Dina Simon, CEO of the USVI Hurricane Recovery & Resilience Task Force by the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands

Are you ready to set out on your own and turn your passion to profit–to become an entrepreneur? Have you already quit your job and entered the exciting world of entrepreneurship to find out that it’s not as exciting as it seemed? Leaving a cushy, yet unsatisfying job to become an entrepreneur can be the scariest decision of your life. If you have been thinking about becoming an entrepreneur or are currently struggling as an entrepreneur, this is the session for you. You will hear from successful entrepreneurs on how best to make the transition from your job, how to strengthen your current business, and what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.

People of all ages, economic background and ethnicities are affected by mental illness. In fact, it is more prevalent among Haitians than we care to admit. Identifying and treating mental disorders can often present many challenges especially among Haitians both in Haiti and in the diaspora. One of the major roadblocks of identifying, reporting and treating mental illnesses is cultural misunderstanding and biases. In this session, you will hear from mental health experts who are working to debunk some of the cultural myths and biases of mental illness. We will explore topics such as identifying common signs of mental disorders, trauma, and culturally sensitive mental health training, and implementing strategies to ensure sound mental health. We will end our time together by exploring potential policies and training models that can help address mental health issues more effectively within the Diaspora and Haiti.

In 2005, the Diaspora built a movement to amend the Haitian Constitution, which had stripped naturalized Haitians and those born overseas of their Haitian citizenship. Article 11, from the new amendment, states: “Any person born of a Haitian father or Haitian mother who are themselves native-born Haitians and have never renounced their nationality, possesses Haitian nationality at the time of birth.” Yet, the amended Constitution still denies Haitians with multiple citizenships the right to representation in Parliament and to occupy national public offices. Specifically, it does not authorize the exercise of the right to vote in elections, etc. The panelists will explore how to build a sustainable and inclusive movement, in partnership with Haiti-based private and public institutions, to fully integrate the Haitian Diaspora in the affairs of the country.

Moderator: Judge Lionel Jean-Baptiste, President at United Front of the Haitian Diaspora

Speakers:

Albert Decady Esq., Researcher for the Struggle to Exercise the Diaspora Vote

Alix Claude, Spokesman and Researcher for the 2006-2012 Struggle to Amend the 1987 Constitution to Win Dual Citizenship and the Current Struggle to Exercise the Diaspora Vote

The Global Economy evolves every day. Participation simply requires a product and a willingness to compete and trade. This is what both successfully developed, emerging, and developing countries have learned and pursued. Thus, what should the Haitian participation in the Global Economy by 2040 look like? What should be the products? Can Haiti even try anything without the necessary infrastructure—both social and physical? This panel will discuss recommendations made by the NAAHP Working Group to these questions and the suggested models aimed at improving Haiti’s competitiveness in the Global Economy.

Many fear that technology will deepen the skills gap and increase unemployment by taking over jobs that are traditionally performed by humans. Is this a myth or reality? What is the impact on immigration in the United States in this regard? What does that mean for Haiti, a country characterized by cheap labor, high unemployment, and low literacy rates? Furthermore, though not unique to the Haitian Diaspora, many are in dire need of career guidance to make sure that their field of study are aligned with their interest and aptitudes while taking into consider their financial needs. This session will seek to answer these questions and offer new strategies to successfully move into the future

Moderator: Newton Sanon, President/CEO at OIC of South Florida

Speakers:

Adler Eliacin, Head of Supplier Diversity at State Street Corporation, Chairman of the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Massachusetts

Delle Joseph, Chairman of the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida (HACCOF)

Kara V. Ferrier, Esq., President and Founder of Vaval Ferrier Law Group and CEO of the InPowerment Institute, LLC

The Diaspora sends about $1 billion every year in Haiti. While these contributions are important and helpful, they cannot be categorized as investments. This session will explore how Diaspora’s Direct Investment in Haiti can redefine the country’s economy and create a path toward economic development. Furthermore, it will highlight investment opportunities in Haiti in key sectors and the role of innovative financing in promoting economic development and eradicating poverty.

The Diaspora can serve as a bridge between Haitian communities living in host countries and in the motherland and has the power to strengthen both communities. How do we bring both communities together and build them up? What structures and programs can add value and create change in these communities? What mechanisms can be used to ensure sustainability and why is this important? These are questions that this session will seek to answer.

Diaspora communities are becoming increasingly attractive to savvy companies in emerging and developing economies seeking to increase their market share. These companies are capitalizing on the success of the diaspora and their purchasing power. Considering that Haitian diaspora has maintained their cultural distinctiveness while living abroad, it represents an untapped opportunity that is yet to be leveraged by companies operating in Haiti. The millennial generation who is generally more educated with greater purchasing power, have kept their affiliation to, both, the Haitian culture and that of their birthplace. The panelists will explore what companies operating in Haiti are doing to capitalize on the diaspora market and discuss their challenges and potential solutions.

Moderator: Marcel Fontin, Chief Operating Officer at Simact Inc. and former Chairman and CEO of Banque de l’Union Haïtienne, S.A.

The U.S.-immigration system and policy are complex and can be difficult for the layman to understand. The news has been dominated by a plethora of immigration issues including border security, detention of immigrant children, deportation, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Public Charge. As a community, it is important that the diaspora remains informed. This panel will seek to provide information on TPS and Public Charge. The panelist will explain what these policies mean, the implications on the Haitian community and the immigrant population as a whole, and how to collaborate and support frontline organizations that are working to improve these policies.

Moderator: James Pierre, Radio and TV Personality

Speakers:

Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum

Guerline M. Jozef, President of the Haitian Bridge Alliance

His Excellency, Paul G. Altidor, Ambassador of Haiti to the United States of America